The value of employment support services for adults on the autism spectrum and/or with intellectual disabilities: Employee, employer, and job coach perspectives

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Cynthia Di Francesco ◽  
Flavio Murahara ◽  
Valerie Martin ◽  
Tara Flanagan ◽  
Aparna Nadig
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Community Organization ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Employer Satisfaction ◽  
Job Coach ◽  
Job Coaching ◽  
Employment Support ◽  
Employment Rates

BACKGROUND: Employment rates among individuals on the autism spectrum or with intellectual disabilities (ID) remain extremely low. Although job coaching services have contributed to successful employment for these individuals, few studies have examined the importance of such support, and even fewer have explored which services are valued most by stakeholders. OBJECTIVE: We examined the importance of employment support services through employee, employer, and job coach perspectives, and employee and employer satisfaction of job coach support. METHODS: A multiple-case study was designed with a community organization providing employment support to individuals on the autism spectrum or with ID, and their employers. Nine employee-employer-job coach triads evaluated the importance of specific services and rated their satisfaction with the job coach support. RESULTS: Services were rated as important, however, some discrepancies were observed between the groups in their ratings of services (e.g., soliciting regular feedback about the employee’s performance). Satisfaction was high for employees and employers; both groups indicated that they would recommend these services. CONCLUSIONS: Job coach support was highly valued by all groups, underscoring the need for these services to be widely available, and suggesting that this support may serve as a critical factor in improving employment outcomes among this population.

Evaluation of employment-support services for adults with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B Nicholas ◽  
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum ◽  
Jennifer Zwicker ◽  
Margaret E Clarke ◽  
Ramesh Lamsal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Support Personnel ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Beneficial Impact ◽  
Employment Support ◽  
Vocational Support

The employment rate among persons with autism spectrum disorder has been noted as unacceptably low. Employment-support services are increasingly linked to the potential for favorable job outcomes, yet little is known about employment-support practices and the outcome of these interventions. This mixed-methods study examined employment-support resources for persons with autism spectrum disorder. An online survey was completed by 137 senior clinicians or administrators in employment-support programs in Canada. Additionally, 122 follow-up interviews were conducted with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (n = 71) and their parents/caregivers (n = 51). Findings indicate that the quality and beneficial impact of employment-support services for adults with autism spectrum disorder may be more favorably perceived by employment-support personnel than by individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Furthermore, employment-support personnel were more disparaging about autism spectrum disorder vocational support capacity within their community, compared to their own programs. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families seek services that support both accessing and retaining employment. Capacity-building in employment support for youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder is recommended, based on a reported insufficiency of, and a lack of evidence guiding, existing services. Program recommendations and an emerging model for integrated vocational support in autism spectrum disorder are offered.

Using Video Self-Modelling to Teach Combined Vocational and Social Skills to an Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Parsons ◽  
Fiore D'Aprano ◽  
Matthew Hughes ◽  
Annie Parish ◽  
Nasia Outsikas
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Skills ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Vocational Skills ◽  
Baseline Design ◽  
Old Adult ◽  
Reading Order ◽  
Successful Employment ◽  
Employment Rates

Abstract Background, Aims and MethodsAdults with ASD have difficulty in learning vocational and social skills, which often translates into low employment rates. Video self-modelling (VSM) is an effective educational technique for low functioning individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with the ability to teach challenging vocational skills as well as basic social skills. Procedures and Outcomes The present study examined the use of video self-modelling to teach these skills to a 22-year-old adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Target behaviours categories included (1) reading order forms, (2) transporting goods, and (3) engaging with customers. A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the videos in teaching these target behaviours. The dependent variables were the percentage of tasks completed correctly, and quantitative prompt dependency using a least to most prompting strategy. Results and Conclusions Results showed that VSM modestly improved reading order forms and transporting goods, and moderately improved engagement with customers. ImplicationsThis intervention resulted in the successful employment of an adult with ASD in a job that he specifically desired, whilst teaching him skills he specifically struggled with. As such, VSM should be considered for others wanting to learn combined social and vocational skills.

scholarly journals IQ and Internalising Symptoms in Adolescents with ASD

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monisha Edirisooriya ◽  
Dominika Dykiert ◽  
Bonnie Auyeung
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Intelligence Quotient ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Social And Emotional ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

AbstractIntelligence quotient (IQ), has been found to relate to the presence of internalising symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This meta-analysis sought to clarify the direction of the relationship between IQ and two prevalent internalising symptoms, anxiety and depression, in adolescents with ASD. Secondly, this study aimed to highlight methodological factors contributing to inconsistent findings in existing research. Self-reported anxiety was found to be significantly higher in youth with a lower IQ, while depression was positively associated with IQ. Consequently, parents, schools and clinicians should be cautious of underestimating anxiety in youth with a lower IQ. However, care should also be taken to ensure adolescents with ASD without intellectual disabilities are not overlooked with regards to social and emotional support.

Work performance and support needs analysis of students with intellectual disabilities

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hailee Baer ◽  
Kristen Welker ◽  
Carol Cox
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
School To Work ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
School To Work Transition ◽  
Employment Supports ◽  
Work Transition ◽  
Job Coach ◽  
Students With Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Job Coaches

BACKGROUND: School-to-work transition planning for students with intellectual disabilities should include community-based early work experiences to prepare for possible future integrated employment. Employers have noted job performance levels and appropriate use of supports as important for maintaining employment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess work performance and support needs of students with intellectual disabilities attending a short summer early work experience. METHOD: A small group of secondary-level school students with intellectual disabilities attended a summer-long vocational rehabilitation program where they worked with a job coach at a work setting. Student participants and their job coaches rated their perceptions of the students’ work performance quality and support needs on the Job Observation and Behavior Scale pre-post program. RESULTS: The groups deviated significantly in their pre-assessment and post-assessment ratings. Job coaches and students both reported significant increases in perception of quality of student performance. In addition, job coaches reported students needing significantly less employment supports by program end. Student participants also reported needing less employment supports by program end; however, results were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: When both student and job coach realistically view student work performance and supports needed, the school-to-work transition can be improved.

Peer-Mediated Literacy-Based Behavioral Interventions: A Job Coaching Strategy for Secondary Students With ASD

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-110
Author(s):  
Toby J. Honsberger ◽  
Michael P. Brady ◽  
Christine F. Honsberger ◽  
Kelly B. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Students ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Employment Preparation ◽  
Coaching Intervention ◽  
Work Routine ◽  
Job Coaching ◽  
Students With Autism ◽  
Community Environments

Many secondary students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not taught employability skills and routines needed for competitive or supported employment in regular community environments. Literacy-based behavioral interventions (LBBIs) that combine print, pictures, and behavioral rehearsal are effective for promoting acquisition and maintenance of numerous skills, but have not been investigated as a job coaching intervention for individuals with ASD. In this study, a peer coworker was taught to deliver an LBBI guide to students with ASD as a job coaching intervention for three skills in an employment preparation routine: preparing and selling coffee in a work-site food truck. Results showed students’ accuracy with the skills in the work routine increased, and maintained after the intervention.

Listening to Bedouin fathers of children with autism spectrum disorder

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Manor-Binyamini
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Raising Children ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Children With Asd

Although children across the world experience autism spectrum disorder (ASD), most research on ASD has been conducted using Western cultural perspectives and has focused primarily on mothers, leaving significant gaps in the literature. This study aimed to address these gaps by exploring the experiences of fathers raising children with ASD in a Bedouin community. To this end, a sample of 19 fathers of children (aged 6–15 years) with ASD living in recognized and unrecognized Bedouin settlements in the Negev participated in ethnographic, semi-structured interviews designed to investigate their experiences with raising a child with ASD in their community. Two major themes emerged: the challenges that Bedouin fathers of children with ASD face, and the influence of socio-demographic and cultural characteristics on their experience. Findings reflect the complex experiences of fathers raising children with ASD in the Bedouin community, stemming from their socio-cultural context and the limited knowledge and support services that are available in the community for these children. This article concludes with recommendations on how to enhance professional sensitivity and provide more culturally tailored services for parents of children with ASD.

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